CHS Seniors are working with their government teachers on a “Save Our History” grant from The History Channel to preserve the legacy of Jefferson School and Lane High School.  The students are studying documents from Charlottesville Schools from 1950-1965.

If you, or any of your family, friends, or neighbors attended Jefferson School, Burley High School, or Lane High School during this time period, CHS students would be very interested in interviewing you and learning your story.  Please contact Mr. Daly (james.daly@ccs.k12.va.us) or Ms. Lewis (heather.lewis@ccs.k12.va.us) for more information.

In addition to individual interviews, there are panel interviews scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 25. The panels will take place in the CHS Booker T. Reaves Media Center, from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Mr. Daly or Ms. Lewis if you would like to participate in one of these panels by helping our students learn more about this important period of Charlottesville’s history.

CHS is one of 11 nation-wide recipients of this grant.  From the Save Our History website:

1. Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
Charlottesville, VA
Partner: Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville City Schools
Description: The Tale of Two Schools: Promoting Community Unity through a Historical Study of School Integration

The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society will partner with Charlottesville High School government teachers to educate and encourage students to conduct historical research using primary source documents from Charlottesville City Schools’ history. Students will document and preserve the voices of individuals who lived during the turbulent years of desegregation in Charlottesville by collecting oral histories. The final product, hosted by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, will be a museum exhibit consisting of oral histories combined with copies of School Board primary source documents, and an online exhibit featuring photos, oral histories and related historical documents.